Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

[img_assist|nid=62225|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=150]When Ten Ton Hammer last checked in with Ankama's Dofus, we noted that the game was an unusual Flash-based MMO sporting real time strategy combat and plenty of room for growth. Can this “try before you buy” creation, which boasts over 3 million players worldwide, win the hearts and minds of entrenched Westerners? [Editor’s Note: In other words, the cynical, smarmy staff at Ten Ton Hammer.] With reasonable expectations going in, it was hard to admit that I was a little surprised at what was available just below the surface of this title. Dofus didn't try to go over the top or be too innovative, it just provided some entertaining and unusual content.

Gameplay

Very GoodAs I stated in my preview, the class choices are numerous in the game and give Dofus the variety you'd see in any AAA MMO. Personally I avoided the classes that looked like giggling teenage girls and went with a Sadida. Muscular, oiled, and having the head of a muppet, these guys are a summoner class that tames brambles. That's right, I said thorn bushes. You want to fight about it? If nothing else these guys get to summon Voodoo dolls that can do damage, leech hitpoints and deal out other interesting effects making them a great choice for ranged utility and DPS.

Combat is the most repetitive of any task in any game, and with the simple Flash-based system, Dofus doesn't have the flexibility found in most products. The developers overcome this by utilizing a real time system very similar to what you might have seen with Final Fantasy Tactics.  It's not ground breaking, but I haven't found many who enjoy strategy games that dislike the way the combat plays out.  You get roughly 30 seconds to decide where to move and what ability to use, then other party members (assuming you have them), and finally the enemies themselves.  It might be a little rough for those who are used to fast paced PvP environments where an entire fight can be over in 30 seconds, but once you make your decision you can end your turn. Combat does get more complex as you reach the higher levels with more abilities available to you as well as your enemies.

The creatures you battle start off as cutesy little scrubs you'd expect from the Legend of Zelda or any of the Mario series.  Frightened Evil Dandelions, Young Black Gobblys, and Fearful Moskitos don't sound like much, but they are the only the beginning.  The freakish looking Jack O'Gobball, mutated Mush Mush, and hundreds of other creatures are waiting to gnaw off your ankles.  The variety of encounters was one of the features I found most enjoyable in Dofus compared to the reused content we see in other games. Considering the content in Dofus must range from 1 to 1000, there needs to be a considerable number of variations to experience.  

Like every good fantasy based game, Dofus has plenty of equipment to try out and upgrade as you see fit. Boots, hats, belts, and backpacks let you customize your stats to the playstyle you prefer.  Like plenty of other games, a large backpack is critical to carry around all that crap that you want to sell.  You can even find one that looks like a pineapple.  There’s no shortage of weapons that are the bread and butter of the fighter classes. Swords, axes, hammers and all sorts of death dealing devices are available in every shape and flavor.  I was able to find three or four good weapons very early on that I could switch between at my leisure.

Graphics

Pretty Good[img_assist|nid=32772|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=150]Unlike what you might expect, the graphics in Dofus actually achieve a sort of diversity and flamboyance that are actually quite appealing to the eye. Even though the game doesn't sport incredible, top-notch graphics, it still manages to please the senses. The game may be seen only one screen "zone" at a time, but there are literally thousands to move through. I spent twenty minutes traveling in various directions finding the only hindrance to be high level enemy creatures, which are also bright and colorful, blocking the way. There was plenty to see and do and environments changed on a regular basis, making each zone screen feel much different from the last.

Sound

GoodThe musical score and sound effects that I found in Dofus definitely exceeded my expectations. Since the game is based in Flash programming, I expected to hear a myriad assortment of obnoxious and jarring effects. However, I found the opposite to be the case and the sound never aggravated my ears in anyway.

There's more! Don't miss the second half of our review.